President Barack Obama will be visiting two Detroit auto plants today, touting the huge success of the loans and corporate makeovers of 2009. Over 55,000 direct jobs were saved; along with tens of thousands of indirect jobs with suppliers, OEMs, nearby businesses. People could save their homes and of course there was an economic stimulus when all of those people have jobs and businesses large and small become more viable. The President of the United States of America will visit the Jefferson Chrysler Plant were a new Jeep Cherokee will be built; and the Detroit-Hamtramck GM plant where the new Chevy Volt will be built.

 

 

Tom Walsh, automotive writer for the Detroit Free Press, published a great article today on why President Obama's work with the auto companies is one of his greatest accomplishments to date and nothing short of a miracle. Although many may not agree, I agree with Tom that the Prez should definitely be given his props for keeping the USA out of a depression and literally saving the U.S. auto industry. Read Tom's article here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announced today that is it moving 3,000 of its employees from Southfield to the RenCen (Towers 5 and 6). That is very good news for the headquarters of General Motors which owns the Renaissance Center, as this move will put the occupancy rate near 90%. It is also very good news for the downtown area and downtown businesses.

 

 

 

We LOVE good news in Detroit!

 

 

 

In an area in Detroit now known as the "New Center", technology companies and innovative business incubators have been making their presence known. The New Center, previously known as "New Amsterdam", is located in the center of Detroit near Woodward, Grand Boulevard (East and West), Warren Avenue, and the I-94 Freeway. Most importantly, TechTown is in the area of the former General Motors Headquarters and many of the offices of TechTown are located in historic buildings designed by the late world-renowned architect Albert Kahn.

Two of the first companies in New Amsterdam was the Burroughs Adding Machine Company (now Unisys Corporation) and the American Electrical Heater Company. After declining in the 1950s, the area began its revitalization in the 1990s led by the president of Wayne State University, Dr. Irvin D. Reid.

Today, the New Center Area and TechTown is rapidly growing into a mixed-used neighborhood with lofts, schools, entertainment, shopping, and a renowned research and technology park focusing on small technology-based startups and enterprises. Close by is the Detroit Midtown neighborhood, including the Detroit Cultural Center with various museums, libraries and art galleries, the Detroit Medical Center, and Wayne State University.